IT Carlow 2-20
UCC 1-20
(After extra-time)
Fintan O’Toole reports from Dangan
A BRILLIANT GOAL in extra-time by Waterford senior Colin Dunford proved the crucial score in propelling DJ Carey’s IT Carlow team into their first ever Fitzgibbon Cup final after today’s semi-final success over UCC.
A thrilling match saw IT Carlow on the brink of victory in normal time after Kilkenny’s Kevin Kelly found the net in the 56th minute and the superb point striking of Laois forward Stephen Maher put them ahead by 1-15 to 0-13.
But UCC staged a superb comeback as Kilkenny’s John Power, an All-Ireland club winner with Carrickshock last weekend, whipped home a goal and Tipperary’s Michael Breen popped up with two inspirational points to draw them level.
Maher missed a chance to win the game for IT Carlow from a ’65 but made amends in extra-time as his points were key in pushing the winners clear 1-18 to 1-17 by the midway mark of the additional period.
Then Dunford raced forward to billow the back of the UCC net in the 72nd minute and despite UCC’s best efforts, they could not haul IT Carlow back with goalkeeper Enda Rowland producing a couple of superb saves.
http://www.facebook.com/HigherEdGAA/videos/1199088136825931/
Maher finished with 0-11 to his credit for IT Carlow while apart from the goalscorers Kelly and Dunford, there were also vital scoring contributions from Kilkenny’s Chris Bolger (0-4) and Carlow’s Martin Kavanagh (0-2).
UCC’s top scorer was Rob O’Shea who bagged 0-7 – five from frees – while Breen was outstanding as he weighed in with 0-5 from play. Waterford duo Jamie Barron and Tom Devine also impressed for the 2013 champions.
IT Carlow were ahead 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval and they had stretched their advantage to 0-13 to 0-9 early in the second half, thanks to the accuracy of Bolger and Maher.
But UCC slowly reeled them in with four unanswered points courtesy of O’Shea (3) and Barron, to leave the teams deadlocked with ten minutes left. In a dramatic finale IT Carlow hit 1-2 to be on the cusp of victory before UCC’s revival ensured extra-time was necessary. And in that time frame, it was Dunford who pounced for the key strike.
Scorers for IT Carlow: Stephen Maher 0-11 (0-6f, 0-2 ’65), Chris Bolger 0-4, Kevin Kelly 1-1, Colin Dunford 1-0, Martin Kavanagh 0-2, Jack Fagan, Enda Rowland (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for UCC: Rob O’Shea 0-7 (0-5f), Michael Breen 0-5, John Power 1-1, Anthony Spillane, Jamie Barron 0-2 each, Alan Cadogan, Mark O’Connor, Tom Devine 0-1 each.
IT Carlow
1. Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix, Laois)
2. Dwayne Palmer (Camross, Laois)
3. Kevin Hannafin (St Brendan’s, Kerry)
4. Ross Browne (Colligan, Waterford)
8. James Doyle (St Mullin’s, Carlow)
6. Damian Healy (Longwood, Meath)
7. Dale O’Hanlon (Carrick Swans, Tipperary)
29. Kevin Kelly (St Patrick’s, Kilkenny)
9. Colin Dunford (Colligan, Waterford)
10. Charles Dwyer (Ballinakill, Laois)
14. Stephen Maher (Clough-Ballacolla, Laois)
12. Martin Kavanagh (St Mullin’s, Carlow)
13. Jack Fagan (De La Salle, Waterford)
11. Mark Russell (Lattin-Cullen, Tipperary)
15. Chris Bolger (Clara, Kilkenny)
Subs
17. Tommy Nolan (Drom-Inch, Tipperary) for Dunford (58)
9. Dunford for Nolan (start of extra-time)
13. Nolan for Fagan (68)
13. Fagan for Kelly (inj) (75)
20. Michael Redmond (Rathnure, Wexford) for Maher (inj) (75)
UCC
1. Jack Barry (Castlelyons, Cork)
4. Shane Roche (Shamrocks, Waterford)
3. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons, Cork)
2. Ian Kenny (Ballygunner, Waterford)
5. Séamus Kennedy (St Mary’s Clonmel, Tipperary)
6. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater, Waterford)
7. Rickard Cahalane (Ballymartle, Cork)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater, Waterford)
9. Michael Breen (Ballina, Tipperary)
28. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore, Waterford)
11. Tom Devine (Modeligo, Waterford)
10. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank, Waterford)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas, Cork)
15. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline, Cork)
34. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons, Cork)
Subs
12. John Power (Carrickshock, Kilkenny) for Gavin O’Brien (half-time)
31. Michael O’Halloran (Blackrock, Cork) for Mark O’Brien (39)
32. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers, Cork) for Roche (39)
33. Colm Roche (Shamrocks, Waterford) for Spillane (58)
30. Mark O’Connor (Douglas, Cork) for Cahalane (66)
23. Shane Hegarty (Dungourney, Cork) for Power (78)
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Cheat
Get over it
Also go and get your facts right
He is disgrace to the nation. Bet this time sample B won’t go missing
bit severe. it was his horse. he’s the real cheat. glue factory.
Seen his horse hanging out on the boardwalk of the Liffey.
Why is it that people give out when we don’t win medals, but when we put a rider into a competition who has a really good chance of a medal, people call him a cheat, ( his horse failed a doping test ) not Cain and don’t forget he was cleared of having any involvement, plus all of cian’s horses have passed every doping test within the last four years . so why don’t you all get of your high horses . I wish Cain all the best in the qualifier maybe he’ll even bring a medal home .
Well said.
I’m disgusted that this guy is representing my country. As far as I’m concerned he’s a cheat, he shouldn’t be there. If he wins a medal I won’t be celebrating.
im the same..can’t support him.
Well said Vanessa
Humans who take drugs have control over what goes into their bodies, if you are a rider, lots of other people have access to the horse, grooms, vets, anyone passing the stable.
That last episode was all a story from “spooks” missing sample, break in to offices ect
Very strange but still stripped of gold and should not have gone his place should have been given to next in line
Where are all these stupid cheat comments coming from? From my recollection it was his horse that tested positive for a banned substance and not Cian and he was cleared of all involvement in the doping incident. Before or since Athens there hasn’t been a single concern raised about any horse ridden by O’Connor. Get your facts straight before accusing a sportsperson of something so serious.
It’s the fact that there was a real underhanded effort to get sample b to disappear. Said he had no knowledge of it. Well he would say that wouldn’t he.
Don’t we have short memories.
I am a show jumping fan 24/7. I am involved in the production of young horses and travel to shows around the country week in and week out. I do not recognise most of the people commenting on this thread. Yes you are entitled to an opion but that doesnt make you informed or correct. Well done Cian and good luck in the next round from a real Irish Show Jumping Supporter.
Eric Lamaze reigning Olympic champion was thrown out of the Canadian team on several occasions because of cocaine abuse. Now clean and forgiven and hugely popular ( as well as really brilliant ) … Why can’t Cian O’Connor benefit from a similar forgiveness? Especially since his horse tested positive for a tranquilliser?? Go on Cian! Win a medal !! Might be difficult against this English and Saudi Arabians…
Other riders and their families have suffered as a result of this guys drug history. Yet because of his connections he gets picked – whoever picked him should be fired and the committee that helped decide. It means the selectors are cheats as well as O Connor. If a family member of mine was missed out as a result of corruption and cheating I would be disgusted. It’s real Irish where the rich can buy their way out of trouble. Pat Hickey gets promoted and the honest people who compete against O Connor and his selectors must try and keep their chins up against these cheats. It’s our children who will suffer from the example given ie take drugs and you get ahead. Thank you Pat Hickey and your selectors for this sin against decent people. I hope he falls of his horse.
Irish people don’t like success in others, they just like to wallow in their own self pity and blame other people, the government, the British. Someone does well? Must be a cheat, someone earns to much? Must be corrupt. Get over yourselves, knock that large chip off your shoulder and support your country and those competing and working hard for it. Bring on the reds!
so who gave the horse the drugs?
the FEI said it was satisfied that Cian O’Connor was not involved in a deliberate attempt to influence the performance of the horse.
Although the substance was prohibited, it was not performance enhancing.
Always amuses me when i state FACTS and get red thumbs, seems people don’t like the truth.